Page 38 of My Wild Pet

The display confirms the line is open. “Kaelin. I need you to watch over Ember tonight. He’s… unsettled, as you well know. He’s still processing what happened with Fifi and the wound has reopened in unexpected ways with the arrival of Ash..”

I pause, measuring my next words. “There’s more. His attachment to Ash isn’t entirely organic. I’ve taken steps to deepen their connection—subtly, through mind control sequences. I’ve adjusted his memories of Fifi. He still feels the guilt of leaving her, but the bond’s intensity has been redirected toward Ash.Sheis now his purpose and reason to win. Should they compete in the Bond Breaker challenge, I’m confident Ember won’t repeat past mistakes.”

The faint glow of the recording icon flashes across my fingertips. “If properly bonded, I believe Ash and Ember couldsurpass what Ember and Fifi achieved, but it must feel genuine to them. They cannot suspect my influence.”

I lean toward the console, lowering my tone. “Do not interfere with their development, Kaelin—just monitor them. If Ember displays any sign of psychological distress, notify me at once. Their bond must remain convincing, regardless of how… artificially it began.”

With a final tap, I dispatch the message. The holographic display winks out. The weight of my own manipulations settles in the silence, but I brush aside any doubt. The stakes are too high for regret. I tell myself that manipulation is just another instrument in my arsenal.

I rise, smoothing my jacket, thinking,There’s no room for error here—Ash and Embermust win.

In my bedroom, I open Ash’s cage. She doesn’t come out immediately. “I’m not going to hurt you.” I know she doesn’t understand all my words yet, but I speak slowly and evenly for her to learn. “Come on, Ash.”

I know she recognizes her name and the word ‘come,’ so she tentatively looks up at me with her expressive green eyes and gingerly comes out of the cage. I’m going to have to give the cleaning attendants a talking to as they should have dressed Ash in a purple or pink outfit before they went off to have the evening meal. Instead they put her in a red color more suited to Mags. I curse under my breath as I find a purple outfit for Ash and put it on her myself.

After I dress her I can’t help but play with her nipple piercings. Today while she ran, I thought about how beautifulshe would look running with gorgeous jewelry to swing with her movements. The perfectly adorned human pet.

She moves her body closer to mine. She’s still aroused. The fur between her legs glistening with her desire. I grab her right hand and bring it up to my nose. She’s been touching herself.

“You’ve been a bad girl,” I tell her. I know she wants to orgasm, but I won’t give it to her because it’s part of her training.

It doesn’t stop her pressing her body next to mine, trying to straddle my thigh, as I push her away I notice she’s left my trouser leg wet.

I turn her around and swat at her cream rear, the skin turning red. I realize after a few strokes that I should check her collar and sure enough, her collar’s readout shows an abrupt spike in adrenaline, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels—classic signs of arousal in humans.

I need a different tactic. I turn her around again, so she’s facing me. I lightly tap her inner thighs to open her legs wide and I stroke her between her legs just for a moment. “Good girl.”

“Good girl,” she repeats. Then adds, “I am good girl.”

“Good, Ash. You’re learning.” I take my hand away. Knowing she’s at a very heightened state of arousal that won’t be met. I will just casually keep her on edge for days.

I attach her leash to her collar and lead her into my quarter’s dining room.

It’s quiet except for the soft clink of the metal bowl against the floor. Ash kneels before me, her hands hovering uncertainly at her sides as she stares at the food I’ve placed in front of her. Her green eyes look up to me for approval.

She’s learning.

“Eat,” I say simply. I know she knows this Imperial word from Kaelin. She must be starving. “Eat,” I say again.

Ash hesitates for just a moment longer before leaning down, her blonde and purple ombre hair brushing the edge of the bowlas she takes her first bite with her face in the bowl. There’s no grace in it, no dignity, and that’s the point.

I can tell she resents this, but she complies because she must. Because she understands, on some level, that this is her reality now. Performance pets must obey their masters on every level. If I allowed her to eat at the table like sex ship pets, then she may think she has some leverage with me, when in fact she has none.

Ash finishes her food quickly and lifts her head to meet my gaze. I know what she wants, but she can’t have it. I’ve only got eight months to train her. “No more.”

Ash gets on her knees, her hands clasped above her perfect breasts, pushing them together sweetly, and looks up at me pleadingly. She says the only words she knows well, “I am a good girl.”

I know this is the human version of begging. “No.” Then I grab her stomach. “No,” I say to make it clear what’s going on. However, she may not knowwhyshe is unhealthy. I can’t understand why she would choose to be this way if she knew. But then again, I don’t know how well humans can avoid the toxins in their food. It’s all irrelevant now. She’s mine and I’ll make her healthy.

For a moment, I think she might continue to plead. But she doesn’t. Good. Obedience.

I gesture for her to follow me. “Come.”

She rises slowly and follows me into the bathroom. I turn toward her, gesturing toward the toilet.

“Use the toilet, empty your bowels,” I instruct slowly, hopefully she’ll remember the Imperial words, watching as she hesitates.

After a few seconds she remembers and steps past me to sit on the toilet.

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